Gulfstream Park: American Prince Registers Sharp Maiden Score; Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Has $950,000 Guarantee

Irving Cowan's American Prince debuted at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Sunday with a thoroughly dominating 3 ½-length victory, leaving a field of equally well-bred 3-year-olds.

The son of Liam's Map ($13.80) broke alertly under Emisael Jaramillo, shook off early pressure and drew off to a decisive triumph in the six-furlong maiden special weight test carded as Race 3 on a 12-race program.

“I thought he had some potential. This was a real good race. I didn't know if he had enough to outrun real good horses right now,” trainer Ralph Nicks said. “He's a half to Remarkable Soul, who we won a couple of races with here. She was a talented filly. Hopefully, he has her talent and maybe a little more.”

Harvard, a full brother to 2016 Eclipse Award-winning juvenile champion and 2017 Preakness runner-up Classic Empire, rallied to finish second.

American Prince ran six furlongs in 1:10.40 under Emisael Jaramillo.

A first-level optional claiming allowance is the likely target for American Prince, said Nicks.

“It's a long year,” he said.

Wednesday's Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $950,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $950,000 Wednesday at Gulfstream Park.

The popular multi-race wager went unsolved for the sixth straight racing day Sunday since a lucky bettor broke the jackpot for $712,824.06 Feb. 22. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $61,262.28 Sunday.

The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day's pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.

There will also be a Super Hi-5 carryover Wednesday of $10,146.85.

WHO'S HOT: Irad Ortiz Jr. added a pair of winners to his meet-leading total, scoring aboard Luann ($2.80) in Race 2, Aviano ($6.80) in Race 8 and Ghostly Beauty ($6) in Race 10.

Emisael Jaramillo doubled, scoring aboard Tellington ($70.80) in Race 1 and impressive debut winner American Prince ($13.80) in Race 3.

Hall of Famer Javier Castellano scored back-to-back aboard Zia's Song ($34.40) in Race 4 and Glory of Florida ($16.60) in Race 5.

The post Gulfstream Park: American Prince Registers Sharp Maiden Score; Wednesday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Has $950,000 Guarantee appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Colonel Liam’s Pegasus a Win for All Connections

The journey from Missouri to Hallandale Beach proved to be more than worth it for owners Robert and Lawana Low when they watched their speedy gray colt Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) flash past the wire to win the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf.

While Robert Low said they were confident going into the Pegasus, they were unconvinced that the newly-turned 4-year-old had to win by a landslide in order to be considered a top contender in his division.

“I think it was a really nice field,” he noted. “There were some really nice horses with some good numbers, but he didn't disappoint.

While the Lows enjoyed the victory from the winner's circle, another couple celebrated from their farm in Ocala.

Colonel Liam became a dream come true for Ron and Suzanne Fein when he was their first seven-figure pinhook in 2019.

“He came on like gangbusters,” Ron Fein said of the race with enthusiasm. “It was terrific- just beautiful movement. I had always been thinking dirt, so he surprised me. I think he'd be good on dirt or turf; He's just a superhorse.”

The Feins have been pinhooking both weanlings and yearlings for 22 years at their Superfine Farms in Ocala. Throughout their journey in the business, they've worked closely with Ciaran Dunne of Wavertree Stables. Fein credits Dunne for finding Colonel Liam at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale.

“He saw the horse and asked if I liked him,” Fein recalled. “I thought he was a nice-looking colt. He had good conformation and looked like he was going to be quick, but I didn't think he was anything special, special.”

Colonel Liam sells for $1.2 million with the Wavertree consignment at the 2019 OBS April Sale. | Wavertree Stables

After signing the ticket for $50,000, Fein brought the colt home to Superfine Farms, where he and his wife break six to eight yearlings each year.

By the time Fein delivered the colt to Wavertree in the weeks leading up to the OBS April Sale, the youngster had been transformed.

“When we took him over to Ciaran, his eyes lit up,” Fein recalled. “He had gained a lot of leg, his body had filled out and he looked absolutely gorgeous. He was a beautiful mover. We use Racing Edge Training Center and we kept getting comments from trainers and riders that they thought this horse was something special.”

The April-foaled gray was out Amazement (Bernardini), a daughter of dual Grade I winner Wonder Again (Silver Hawk) and a sister to Red Raven (Smart Strike), a stakes winner in Japan. He hailed from the family of Grass Wonder, a champion 2-year-old in Japan.

After breezing :20 4/5 at the sale, Colonel Liam caught the eye of several top bidders, including the Low's agent Jacob West.

“I was relying on Jacob's evaluation of him,” Low explained. “We noticed in his pedigree, he had a strong female family. Jacob, with his connection to the Taylor brothers, has a lot of appreciation for Unbridled's Song and that sire line.”

Colonel Liam sold to the Lows for $1.2 million and, while the Feins had had several pinhooks come close to the seven-figure mark over the years, the colt became their first million-dollar sale.

“I think that was probably one of the most exciting days of our lives when he sold for all that money,” Fein said. “We thought that he was going to get close to a million and then it kept going and going.”

“We were pretty close to the top of our budget,” Low admitted. “Usually those million-dollar purchases are just the kiss of death, but this one is working out so far.”

Colonel Liam was sent to Todd Pletcher and made his debut in April on the dirt. He was elevated to first via a disqualification, but Low said they were a bit disappointed with the effort after reviewing the numbers.

After a third-place finish in his next start, Pletcher decided to switch the sophomore over to the grass. The colt responded with a 2 3/4-length romp in an allowance at Saratoga.

“I don't think the numbers really described how impressive that particular race was,” Low said. “We had a big sigh of relief that this guy was going to be worth it after all.”

Stepping into stakes company next in the Saratoga Derby Invitational S., after getting bumped and pinched at the start, he finished behind eventual Grade I winners Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman (GB}) and Gufo (Declaration of War), and was a nose short of third after stablemate No Word (Silent Name {Jpn}).

“He had a really tough trip,” Low said. “At the end he had a lot of run left in him with no where to go and no way to get through. He was less than a length from the winner even with all the trouble he had, so we thought we had the best horse in that race.”

Colonel Liam didn't disappoint in his final start leading up to the Pegasus with a 3 1/4-length win in the Tropical Park Derby.

Off as the 5-2 favorite in his first Grade I bid in the Pegasus, Colonel Liam maintained a ground-saving position in the middle of the field, but was shifted out wide by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. going into the stretch and outdueled stablemate Largent (Into Mischief) to win by a neck.

“I thought he might have had too much to do as they came into the turn, but he figured out a way to get there,” said Low. “Irad did an excellent job and they got up. He galloped out nicely, went back to the barn and ate every oat.”

Low reported that while they're still enjoying reliving the win from this past weekend, the GI Old Forester Turf Classic S. on Kentucky Derby Day is an intermediate goal for the colt's 2021 campaign, although they may find another spot before then.

While the colt has only had six starts so far in his career, Low said the emotional roller coaster they've experienced already has made the horse unforgettable for both him and his wife.

“I think it's the anticipation that you have a nice horse,” he said. “Then you get some reality along the way with those first two dirt races. So you kind of have some ups and downs, but those downs are what make the good times so good.”

Low, owner of the Missouri-based trucking company Prime Inc., and his wife Lawana have been hooked on racing ever since their first Grade I winner in 1996 when Capote Belle (Capote) won the GI Test S. and then the GI Humana Distaff H. the following year.

Today, their racing stable has roughly 14 horses, of which half are in training with Pletcher and the others are split between Danny Peitz and Steve Margolis. They also are working to expand their breeding operation on their farm in Missouri.

Low said their all-time favorite horse they've owned is Magnum Moon (Malibu Moon), who won the GII Rebel S. and GI Arkansas Derby in 2018, but succumbed to a battle with laminitis following his bid in the GI Kentucky Derby that year.

“He was a dream horse,” Low recalled. “That guy was so smart and even through all his medical issues, he was a gentleman and courageous all the way.”

The tragic loss of Magnum Moon, Low said, makes Colonel Liam even more special for the couple.

“We understand how precious and how courageous these horses are,” he said. “They go out there and put it all on the line. So I think it makes us appreciate having a good, healthy horse. It doesn't really change what happened with Magnum Moon emotionally, but it does give you an appreciation to live in the moment and take it all in.”

Ron Fein and his wife Suzanne recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of their Superfine Farms in Ocala. | Fasig-Tipton

The Lows may have several opportunities to make it to the winner's circle on big race days this year as they look forward to the return of two 4-year-old fillies. Dual graded stakes-winning turfer Sweet Melania (American Pharoah) and Grade II-placed Spice Is Nice (Curlin) are both expected to make their 4-year-old debuts by late spring.

When asked how he and his wife enjoyed the win on Pegasus Day, Low responded with a laugh, “We worked that bottle of champagne over real well, then we came back to Missouri in the early evening and have been quarantined since. But the quarantine is a small price to pay, so now we're just taking it all in and enjoying this horse.”

As for the couple who first put a saddle on the newly-crowned Grade I winner, the Feins celebrated the 25th anniversary of their farm days after Colonel Liam's victory. Fein said they have several promising pinhooks preparing for the upcoming 2-year-old sales, including a colt by Practical Joke and another by Arrogate.

“We believe in quality,” he said. “We try not to get overloaded with horses and we give most of them to Ciaran to finish off. He's the best that there is in the business. We have been very lucky together and it's been a great relationship. The man has a fabulous eye and it's nice doing business with honest people.”

When asked if he has any regrets over selling Colonel Liam or if he's happy to enjoy the memories of their dream-fulfilling sale, Fein responded, “Let's put it this way- you never stop riding the high of a million-dollar sale.”

The post Colonel Liam’s Pegasus a Win for All Connections appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Pletcher Runs 1-2 As Colonel Liam Bests Largent In Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam, the least experienced contender in the richest grass race of the winter season, looked like a seasoned pro in his graded-stakes debut, powering through the stretch to edge Grade 2-winning stablemate Largent by a neck in Saturday's $1-million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The third running of the 1 3/16-mile Pegasus Turf and the fifth renewal of the $3-million Pegasus World Cup (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on dirt, both for 4-year-olds and up, comprised the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, headlining a blockbuster 12-race program that featured seven graded-stakes worth $4.725 million in purses.

Colonel Liam ($7) completed the distance in 1:53.09 over a firm course to lead a Todd Pletcher-trained exacta with Largent, winner of the Fort Lauderdale (G2) Dec. 12 at Gulfstream in his previous start. Cross Border, trying to give trainer Mike Maker his second straight Pegasus Turf victory, was third followed by multiple graded-stakes winner Social Paranoia – the third of Pletcher's talented trio.

“I couldn't be more pleased with the way they all ran,” Pletcher said. “It was a heck of a race between Largent and Colonel Liam at the end. I thought Social Paranoia put in a huge effort from the 12 post. Just really, really happy with all three of them.”

It was the first Pegasus win for Pletcher and second in three editions of the Turf for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., also winning with eventual 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar. Ortiz won the 2020 Pegasus World Cup with Mucho Gusto.

“This is just unreal. It's fantastic,” Robert Low said. “We just had a great combination. We had the horse, we had the trainer, we had the rider, and they got it done. We're just very, very thankful and very grateful. It's a wonderful feeling.”

Sent off as the 5-2 top choice, Colonial Liam was unhurried racing in mid-pack as Storm the Court, winless since being named the 2-year-old male champion of 2019, and multiple graded-stakes winner Anothertwistafate took the field through splits of 23.59 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 48.69 for a half and six furlongs in 1:12.85. Largent saved ground in fourth with Social Paranoia right behind after working his way over from outside Post 12.

Ortiz sat chilly on Colonial Liam while waiting for room around the turn, advancing to fourth just a half-length off the lead. Ortiz found an opening and tipped outside approaching the stretch, setting down for a drive once straightened for home. They were able to get by Social Paranoia, who briefly held a lead near the eighth pole, then outsprinted Largent, who snuck through a seam along the rail and dug in under Paco Lopez.

“In the second and third quarter everybody slowed down and I got good position. I waited inside and got through a little late,” Lopez said. “If I was able to get through earlier, it might have been different.”

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Twin Creeks Racing Stable's Largent, a two-time Virginia-bred stakes winner in addition to his Fort Lauderdale triumph, now has six wins and four seconds in 10 lifetime tries.

“He's run 10 times now and has never been worse than second,” Pletcher said. “He ran a hell of a race today and just was on the tough side of a stretch duel there.”

Tyler Gaffalione had to navigate through traffic to get up for third with Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border, promoted winner of the Bowling Green (G2) and second as the favorite in the Sword Dancer (G1) last summer at Saratoga. They were two lengths behind Largent.

“It wasn't an ideal trip. He didn't get away the smoothest and there was a lot of traffic around the first turn and down the backside,” Gaffalione said. “We were just trying to wait for a spot but nothing really developed until we came into the stretch and then a spot opened up. He really finished up well. It's a shame. I felt like I had more horse and I could have finished better but definitely a very encouraging race moving forward.”

The Elkstone Group's Social Paranoia was only a half-length behind Cross Border in fourth. He won the Appleton (G3) over the Gulfstream course last winter and was coming in off back-to-back victories five months apart – the Poker (G3) at Belmont Park last July and an optional claiming allowance Dec. 16 at Gulfstream.

“He still dug in and put his head in front at one point. He made everyone run and it was a great effort from him,” Pletcher said. “I think with a little better draw he would have been a little closer.”

Following Social Paranoia under the wire were Pixelate, Next Shares, Storm the Court, Aquaphobia, Breaking the Rules, North Dakota, Say the Word and Anothertwistafate.

Colonel Liam, a 4-year-old colt from the first crop of Liam's Map, was purchased for $1.2 million as a 2-year-old in training in April 2019 and began his career on dirt, with one win via disqualification and a third in two tries, both last spring at Gulfstream. He has since won three of four on the grass, including a 3 ¼-length triumph in the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby to punch his Pegasus ticket. The lone loss came by less than a length in the Saratoga Derby (G1).

“We really were [confident]. He showed us a lot of ability in his couple of starts on the grass. We felt like he was getting better and better,” Pletcher said. “We loved the way he handled the turf in the Tropical Derby and he had trained great. We were very optimistic, He's a little less experienced than some of the other horses, but I think this proves his quality.”

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Colonel Liam Marches To Pegasus Turf Tally

The 2020 campaign of Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) picked up steam as it rolled along and the athletic gray colt picked up where he left off Saturday, as he found his way out of a jackpot and into the clear with time ticking away in Saturday's GI Pegasus World Cup Turf and outfinished stablemate Largent (Into Mischief) to win the $1-million event. Cross Border (English Channel) rounded out the trifecta, while the outposted Social Paranoia (Street Boss) completed a 1-2-4 finish for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Off as the 5-2 chalk while making his 4-year-old debut, the $50,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $1.2-million OBS April breezer (:20 4/5) took up a ground-saving position from midfield, three back on the fence, as Eclipse Award-winning juvenile Storm the Court (Court Vision) set a moderate pace in advance of Southern California raider Anothertwistafate (Scat Daddy). Largent was able to secure the box seat from his low draw and Colonel Liam raced on that stablemate's back turning into the backstretch before settling into the two path for the run past the half-mile pole. Still traveling well approaching the stretch as he raced in the slipstream of 52-1 Pixelate (City Zip), he was boldly swung out by Irad Ortiz, Jr. five deep and around Social Paranoia in upper stretch, looked to perhaps brush with that rival nearing the eighth pole and outfought Largent to the wire.

Colonel Liam was something other than an abject failure on the dirt, finishing second and third, respectively, in his first two career starts over this main track, but looked a different proposition altogether when racing away to a 2 3/4-length allowance win trying the grass for the first time at Saratoga July 22. Fourth, beaten 3/4 of a length to the far more experienced Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Gufo (Declaration of War) in the Saratoga Derby Invitational at the Spa in mid-August, Colonel Liam resumed from a four-month freshening to dominate this track's Tropical Park Derby Dec. 26.

“We really were [confident],” Pletcher commented. “He showed us a lot of ability in his couple of starts on the grass. We felt like he was getting better and better. We loved the way he handled the turf in the Tropical Derby and he had trained great. We were very optimistic, He's a little less experienced than some of the other horses, but I think this proves his quality.”

Pedigree Notes:

Colonel Liam is the fourth graded winner and third Grade I winner for Liam's Map and is bred on the same cross as 'TDN Rising Star' Wicked Whisper. He is the 11th Grade I winner out of a daughter of top broodmare sire Bernardini. Colonel Liam is one of two winners from four to the races for his dam, an unraced daughter of the Phillipses MGISW turf distaffer Wonder Again, whose full-brother Grass Wonder was the champion 2-year-old of his generation in Japan and later won the Takarazuka Kinen over 2200 meters (11 furlongs) and the 2500-meter (12.5-furlong) Arima Kinen on two occasions before embarking on a stud career. This is also the same female family responsible for GSW Hopeful Growth (Tapiture). Amazement is the dam of Colonel Liam's 3-year-old half-sister Lovely Dee (Shackleford), a juvenile colt by Tapiture and a yearling colt by the late Arrogate, like Liam's Map a son of Unbridled's Song. She most recently visited Copper Bullet (More Than Ready).

Saturday, Gulfstream Park
PEGASUS WORLD CUP TURF INVITATIONAL S.-GI, $981,700, Gulfstream, 1-23, 4yo/up, 1 3/16mT, 1:53.09, fm.
1–COLONEL LIAM, 123, c, 4, by Liam's Map
1st Dam: Amazement, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Wonder Again, by Silver Hawk
3rd Dam: Ameriflora, by Danzig
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($50,000 Ylg '18
KEESEP; $1,200,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Lawana L. & Robert E.
Low; B-Phillips Racing Partnership (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher;
J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $549,000. Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1, $690,965.
Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Largent, 123, g, 5, Into Mischief–Life in Seattle, by Unbridled.
($460,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC
& Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners; B-Lazy Lane Farms, LLC.
(VA); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $183,000.
3–Cross Border, 123, r, 7, English Channel–Empress Josephine,
by Empire Maker. ($180,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $10,000 2yo '16
OBSOPN; $100,000 4yo '18 FTKHRA). O-Three Diamonds Farm;
B-Berkshire Stud & B. D. Gibbs (NY); T-Michael J. Maker.
$91,500.
Margins: NK, 2, HF. Odds: 2.50, 4.20, 14.00.
Also Ran: Social Paranoia, Pixelate, Next Shares, Storm the Court, Aquaphobia, Breaking the Rules, North Dakota, Say the Word, Anothertwistafate.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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